From the Winston-Salem Journal

Sounds of the Season

"Those who would experience soemthing like the Christmas that St. Francis enjoyed in Greccia, Italy, in 1223 may enjoy this disc. As its liner notes point out, these laude -- or devotional, monophonic songs that either praise the Nativity's central characters or tell their stories -- might very well be the same ones that St. Francis heard that night in 1223.

"The four members of Altramar, a medieval-specialist group at Indiana University, play on specially designed reproductions of vielle, rebec, gitter, lute, harp and various percussion instruments while they sing. The music alternates between energetic instrumental accompaniments -- of such rhythmic variety that they could almost be Middle Eastern -- and expansive, cantorial recitation.

"The performances work hard to achieve more than just a reconstructionist sound. SingerDavid Stattelman's eerie vocal intro to "Sovrana si ne' sembianti," an elaborate laude in praise of the Virgin, provides a good example of the artistic vision with which these people recreate these pieces."